5 Unorthodox Pre-interview Routines That Actually Work

The excitement of getting a new job is usually kept on hold by the thought of having to go through the interviewing process. This shouldn’t be the case. With the right information, you can be able to prepare and pass any interview without a hitch. This article is going to focus on some of the most unique pre-interview routines.

Although the routines may be considered strange by many people, they have been proven to work and help many people land their dream jobs. If you are interested in discovering what these routines are, you are in the right place. Below are 5 unorthodox pre-interview routines that actually work.

1. Check Facebook

This routine has two strategies in one. First and foremost, you must login to your Facebook profile and ensure your personal profile is private. The next step is checking if there are any embarrassing photos of you. In case there are any embarrassing tags, untag yourself and make sure all tags are set to private from then onwards i.e. no one can see photos you are tagged in without your approval. Proceed to check all your status updates. If there is anything embarrassing, delete it.

The above tips are very effective in ensuring you don’t have a tainted image on social media just in case your interviewer/s decides to check you up online before calling you for a second interview.

The second strategy in this routine is finding out the name/s of your interviewer/s. If you have access to such information, consider looking them up on Facebook. You should focus on getting as much information as you can about your interviewer/s because such information is priceless when you want to connect with them effectively on a personal level.

For instance, if your interviewer happens to be a family man/woman from their Facebook profile i.e. because they have many family photos on their profile, you will immediately know that they value family which should give you a strong basis for a conversation when you meet them. This in turn increases your chances of being remembered for a second interview.

2. Get something to fiddle with

This is another strange but effective pre-interview tip that will come in handy. In most cases, you will be required to wait for some time in a lounge or waiting room before your interview begins. This is usually the case when there are other people being interviewed before you or the interviewers are just busy or want to give you some time to prepare before you meet them. In some unique cases, the waiting time is a test to observe how you behave under pressure.

This is where a folder comes in handy. Although you can fiddle with many things i.e. a pen, clothing e.t.c., a folder (with your papers) creates the best impression when you are being watched. You appear to be preparing yourself for the interview when in real sense you are a nervous wreck.

3. Rub some cold water on your wrist and behind your ears

This is another effective unorthodox pre-interview routine with scientific proof behind it. A few minutes before you go in for your interview, you should go to the bathroom and rub some cold water on your wrists and behind your years. According to some health experts, this routine has been proven to calm the nerves down quickly because these areas harbour major arteries.

4. Write a List

This routine isn’t as strange as the others. The routine however works wonders. Your interviewers will obviously want to know your achievements, best qualities, what you expect to bring to the company e.t.c. You must therefore come up with the best answers to such questions prior to any interview.

You should however, consider posing for a moment when answering such questions to make sure your answers come out naturally and not rehearsed.

5. Rehearse on video or in front of a mirror

Although your friends or family members can come in handy when you want to create an interview like experience, you are better off rehearsing alone in front of a mirror or on video for obvious reasons i.e. to avoid mocking, jokes e.t.c. This strange pre-interview routine works wonders when you want to see yourself in the eyes of your interviewer.

Your face and tone can speak volumes about you. You must therefore take time to rehearse and eliminate the slightest signs of stress and nervousness. Rehearsing in front of a mirror or on video will help you perfect your posture, voice, eye contact, gestures e.t.c. to ensure you look as confident and relaxed as possible.